The Cornflower Witch Chapter 213

Silver hair was neatly combed in front of the mirror, falling smoothly down her neck. Each delicate strand was clearly visible, creating a mesmerizing aesthetic.

A hair tie, dyed blue like cornflower petals, gently bound her hair, tied into light bows on either side. Her pure white gown, accentuating the girl’s purity, and the blue sash, highlighting her slender, bow-like waist, also lent a faint, exotic charm, preventing her demeanor from being too plain.

For the completeness of the ‘Moon-Waiting Ritual’, Hylial had customized this gown, drawing inspiration from the clothing styles of the former Silverlight Church.

After finishing her grooming, Hylial stood up, twirled slightly, looked at herself in the mirror, and then walked out of the room.

At this time, torches were burning along the roads in the town, illuminating even the night brightly.

Students, dressed in silver-white robes, stood on both sides of the road, awaiting Hylial’s appearance. Under her guidance, they had already learned the procedures of the ‘Moon-Waiting Ritual’ and knew the roles they were to play tonight.

As Hylial stepped out of the house, all eyes along the road converged on her. Although the gazes made her feel a little shy, she took a deep breath, raised her head slightly, looked straight ahead, holding the cornflower bouquet in front of her, and advanced step by step, without shifting her gaze.

Every time she passed a student, they joined the procession with their companions on the opposite side. In this manner, the group gradually reached the white stone pool behind the town.

Hylial stood before the pool, while the students behind her continued forward, encircling the pool in two rows until sixty people formed a ‘U’-shaped crescent moon around it, standing in two lines.

Hylial first lit two specially made incense burners by the pool. The scent of ‘Wind-Guiding Incense (Sky)’ drifted into the night sky, bringing gentle breezes.

Then, Hylial clasped her hands together and recited the prayers of the Silverlight Church, beseeching the purification power of the ‘Glorious Moon’ to manifest. Although she didn’t know if such prayers were truly effective, for the sake of the ritual’s completeness, she tried to align her actions with the legends.

Afterward, each member took out a silver plate, scooped clear water from the pool, and placed it on the stone platform by the poolside.

Then, the crisp sound of glass wind chimes dispersed the night’s noises. Everyone slowly held their breath, their gaze fixed on the maiden standing before the pool.

At this moment, Hylial slowly opened her eyes, looking towards the night sky covered by heavy clouds, and the chime of the bells ceased.

Multiple mystic runes of the Silverlight Church appeared in her pupils, and then a gentle song resonated in the night wind.

“In the light of hope,”

“The hour of waiting,”

“Sleeping hearts awaken gradually,”

“I will sing in your ear.”

…

The melodious tune, a song spanning the vicissitudes of history, the prayers of countless people, a miraculous sound that ended calamity.

Once again, it was sung beneath this sea of clouds.

Even those present, who were unaware of the history of the Silverlight Church, were moved by the song’s profound compassion and hope.

“Singing songs of gratitude for the bounty she brings us”

“And the infinite power that brings growth to all things”

“(Longingly) I devoutly pray for hope”

“(Solemnly) I ask that it reach my heart”

“I pray for the light of hope”

…

“(Earnestly) I beg you to listen to my soul” “(And) descend once more.”

Tonight, all the students were engrossed in the night wind and gentle singing. Their thoughts gradually unified, moved by the ancient prayer for salvation.

Then, faint light spots finally emerged in the breeze, like fireflies dancing in the dim sky.

Although tiny, these faint light spots responded to everyone’s prayers and began to materialize.

They swayed gently in the wind, like returning wanderers, roaming this sky and land covered by dark clouds.

A few light spots fell upon the silver-haired maiden, and an invisible halo appeared, spreading from her in a circle to encompass every member standing by the pool, holding a cornflower bouquet.

At this point, they lightly dipped their bouquets into the water in the silver plates, scattering the liquid into the night sky, where it mingled with the floating light spots.

Afterward, these water droplets and light spots shimmered and danced, rising and falling with the song in the wind, until Hylial had finished singing the prayer completely. Only then did they slowly descend, collecting into the silver plates like flowing moonlight.

Facing the prepared ‘Moon-Waiting Holy Water’, the students took out their prepared silver bottles and carefully poured it in for sealing.

After a long while, the wind, which had been carrying the song, dispersed, and the holy water in the plates was all sealed.

After the ritual, everyone silently prayed in gratitude again, then tidied up the items on site and gathered all the silver bottles into a partitioned box.

“30 bottles per box, a total of ten boxes, 300 bottles, Lord Hylial.” This time, the reporting student used an honorific, likely due to being completely won over by tonight’s ritual.

“Alright,” Hylial breathed a slight sigh of relief.

This should be enough to satisfy the supply needs of the Dark Sand River Valley, and she might even have some left over for purifying water and treating pollution symptoms in Lantern Town.

However, this ritual was also extremely demanding, and it would likely be three months before she could cultivate another batch of ‘Tier 2’ cornflowers. This duration seemed lengthy to her, but to other gardeners, it would be terrifying.

It is worth noting that Tier 2 plants are not as easily cultivated as Tier 1 plants. Normally, a gardener would spend nearly two years to cultivate the ‘Tier 2’ plants they needed. Madame Faran’s large field of sunflowers, which she cultivated in over two years, was already considered the work of a genius by her peers.

Because even with careful cultivation, not every plant can reach Tier 2. Approximately one in ten ‘Tier 1’ plants can advance to ‘Tier 2.’ A gardener like Madame Faran, who had one out of three Tier 1 sunflowers reach Tier 2, was already an exceptionally skilled gardener.

Having packaged the prepared holy water in silver bottles, Hylial waited for the next Reginson transport team to arrive to entrust it to him for transport to the Dark Sand River Valley.

“Since it’s an important item entrusted by Hylial, I will carefully guard it until it’s delivered.” Reginson, a connoisseur, understood the vital importance of this batch of holy water for the development of the Dark Sand River Valley and solemnly accepted the commission.

“I will return in about a month and a half, bringing back the magnetic sand exchanged from the Dark Sand River Valley.”

“During this time, Hylial can focus on developing Lantern Town.” Initially, Reginson had some doubts about this young lady’s ability to manage this new outpost.

However, over the past six months, watching a picturesque town gradually emerge at the foot of the barren mountain, his mood became exceptionally good.

If ‘Lantern Town’ developed well, their transport team would have an additional place to rest and resupply when traveling between the various outposts in the Dark Mist Mountains, significantly enhancing safety.

“Wait for my news, haha.”

After bidding farewell to the maiden, Reginson called his team members to mount their horses and set off from the town once more, heading towards the depths of the distant Dark Mist Mountains.